Our postcard theme focuses on one of the major issues debated at this conference: “Zero Nuclear Weapons, Zero Weapons of Mass Destruction – Why? How? When?”Lend your voice to this debate. What does a culture of peace look like? How would you resolve conflict in peaceful ways? What does it mean to feel safe and secure? Why must we oppose the creation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction? How can we remove these weapons? What can happen if we remain silent? What can change look like? Express yourself through words and/or artwork! Make postcards! Send us your postcards!

All postcards received by September 1, 2009 will be documented online and displayed together with The Ribbon International at the United Nations Conference in Mexico City in September, 2009. Afterwards, this exhibition will travel to venues in the United States for further display and dialog.

Deadline: September 1, 2009

Artwork: 4”x6” or Size 6 postcards on the theme “Zero Nuclear Weapons, Zero WMD: Create a Culture of Peace Now!” On the back of the postcard, provide your name and State/Country so we can acknowledge your submission on the blogsite.

Kulturel Information – Koordination (KIK) is a Danish NGO which works to link people through a network of Art and Culture for a Global Culture of Peace. Website: http://www.kik-kultur.dk/

The Ribbon International is a peace art project. The Ribbon is an ever growing number of meter-by half-meter (or one yard by half-yard) pictures, sewn or painted on fabric, showing what each individual maker loves most and wants to protect by abolishing nuclear weapons, ending wars and preserving the environment. Website: http://www.theribboninternational.org/

The Women's Caucus for Art (WCA) is the leading national nonprofit organization for women in the visual arts professions in the United States. Founded in 1972, WCA has 27 chapters across the country and is an affiliate society of the College Art Association. Website:http://www.nationalwca.org/

I made these postcards out of glow-in-the dark insects and letters, tape and acrylic paint. Please send your postcards on the theme of ending nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction and promoting a culture of peace!

Ink drawing on handmade paper by Chevalier Daniel C Boyer of Houghton, MI. I see a nuclear submarine in a toxic yellow sea.

These very cool cards were created by mail artist Giovanni StraDA DA of Ravenna, Italy. Thanks Mr. StraDA DA for sending some peace!

Launa Romoff of Los Angeles made these two beautiful collage cards. The color schemes and images are both peaceful and threatening at the same time.

From Kensuke Takeda, a graphic artist from Kanagawa, Japan. This card was created with a g-pen (also known as manga-pen) and the PC. His statement was simple: "Complete ban of nuclear weapons."

This strong card was created by WCA artist CM Judge. She writes, "Inner peace = World peace. Always choose love!"

Lana Bosak. WCA Young Women's Caucus

Lana Bosak. WCA Young Women's Caucus

WCA artist Judith Segall of Altamonte Springs, FL

A beautiful piece from WCA artist Nelleke Nix of Mercer Island, WA. She writes, "...and there will be NOTHING xxx and we will wish or want zilch xx and my name will be NADA xxxx How much do I love this world, the air the plants the water the animals the people, ALL."

Postcrosser Catmikesch of Vechta, Germany sent this card against nuclear war. The German words at the bottom translate as "he who sleeps does not commit sins."

A fabulous card from Penny McElroy of Redlands, CA. This mixed media card includes glass-tipped needles. Amazing that the mailman delivered!

San Francisco artist Antonio Torrez-Solis writes, "The world's almost blind consumption of weapons bursts its belly. Ever hungry, the puppetmaster feeds the beast."

Fluxus mail artist Keith A. Buchholz sent this card from St. Louis, MO

NCWCA artist Gretchen Blais of Richmond, California sent three more "only one there only peace" cards.

"Handle With Care" This cradleboard scuplture was created by the artist as part of an installation "Strong Medicine: Commemorating Our Children." We must honor and save children! Rosalie Friis-Ross of Los Angeles, CA

NCWCA artist Regina Elkan of San Anselmo, CA sent this beautifully painted card asking an important question

This very interesting card that answers the question, "What does a culture of peace look like?" was sent by Bobbette Rose of Madison, WI.

These two beautiful cards were created by artist Lark (Larisa Pilinsky) of Los Angeles, CA

"In Darkness"

"Prayer Wheel"
These beautiful cards were created by artist Reiko Michisaki of Santa Cruz, CA.

Marie I Samuel of Carterville, IL sent these beautiful blanket cards.

Eugene Otani of Tokyo, Japan illustrated what North Korea could do if they embraced peace - turn nuclear warheads into energy-producing windmills.

This wonderful card arrived from Fabio Sassi of Bologna, Italy. Thank you so much for participating in this project!

Atombomben. A collage card from artist Lindenhof of Winnemark, Germany. I love that spooky character at the bottom.

This beautiful postcard was sent by Denise Hunley of Dallas, Texas. Thanks for your expression of love and peace.

Three cards from an anonymous artist arrived yesterday from Berkeley, CA. The artist's initials are VQL.

Postcard from graphics designer Kazuo Uchida of Tokyo, Japan. This card was created with sumi ink, Japanese brush and Photoshop. He says, "Japan is the only country that has experienced a nuclear bomb attack. I've tried to describe the experience of how an atomic bomb can destroy humans with heat, a ball of fire, wind and radioactivity. Instantaneously everything is destroyed. "Kowasu." This kanji word was the perfect way to describe such an incident. We should never repeat such a tragedy."

This beautiful hand-painted card was created by artist Gabriela Sincich of West Lafayette, IN

"Rethink" "Nuclear Energy" by Henry Moore was commissioned by the University of Chicago and is located at hte University of Chicago campus. It commemorates the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, which took place at the university in 1942. The artist collaged the chain and lock onto the image of the Moore sculpture to make a point to rethink the energy used for nuclear arms. The artist acknowledges the value of nuclear energy; eg, medicine - NOT NUCLEAR ARMS.
These cards and statements arrived from artist Rosalie Friis-Ross of Los Angeles, CA.

These mixed media cards on cardboard were sent by NCWCA artist Mary Shisler of Oakland, CA

Artist Martha McClaren of San Francisco, CA created this wonderful peace sign. She wrote on the back, "Give Peace a hand."

Minneapolis WCA artist Liz Dodson sent this gorgeous collage card

These cards by artist Elizabeth White of Bethel, CT document her ephemeral burr sculptures. They are from a series called "Dirty Bombs" protesting the use of depleted uranium weaponry. She writes:
About the Cap: Looking to the past it is evident what dunces we have been in our violations of the rights of our fellow man. Here I contemplate my complicity & look toward the future as our power to violate now imperils all life forms.
About the Teddy: The symbol of Teddy is enlisted here to describe the yearning for peace and security. the "children of Iraq" (Kosovo, Bosnia, etc) include also those children born to the soldiers who have been handling chemical & radioactive toxins. Agents so powerful as to mutate human DNA.
About the grenade: As disparate as we may feel, we are ever bound together as members of the human family. As distant as others appear our environs are closely linked by air and water streams. The natural laws of cause and effect and our endowment with reason and conscience assure us we will inherit each other's concerns. That which we inflict on others sticks to us as well.

This amazing card was painted with nail polish and is titled "Smile 2009." It was sent by Serena Rossi of Milan, Italy.

Two beautiful postcards created by Rachel Hobreigh of Los Angeles, CA, reminding us of what our planet stands to lose with nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

Zero Armi Nucleari. Laser collage postcard made by Claudio Grandinetti of Cosenza, Italy. Thank you for sharing your statement about nuclear war heads.

Arlene Streich, NCWCA artist in Oakland, CA created this card. These are photographs of her daughters in Mexico in 1968. Thank you for this moving card!

From graphics designer, Kyouhei Shiozaki of Tokyo, Japan. This card was created using CG: 3dsMax and Photoshop. He says, " What is the most destructive weapon created by man going to bring to the future? I've described this future. It's a vicious explosion in the sky. It would be a mad and ugly result. It's a world created by man's ego that should never be become a reality."

Card from Tomoko Ebina, graphics designer from Tokyo, Japan. She used pen & ink and watercolors. She writes, "I've described North Korea as a country trying to serve not 'tennis balls' but nuclear weapons. What are they thinking? How frightening if the tennis balls...no nuclear bombs...land in Japan! No more nuclear weapons!" Tomoko, thanks for this card. No doubt many people around the world share your fears.

Oakland WCA artist Laura Anderson's postcard represents the 300th card received for this show. This amazing hand-made and textured card shows a bird carrying a branch over flames and erupting mountains

Two beautiful cards from Lauren Johnson-Williams of Half Moon Bay, CA. The top card is a "tourist" card with the words "Welcome to Where the Mountains Still Burn" depicting a domed nuclear reactor and burning mountains.

Calm Series. I made these in the hopes of calm and peace. Priscilla Otani

Here's another one I made on the scary leader theme. Priscilla Otani

"Remember Sadako and All Children" The artist and friend Fumi Matoba creates 1000 cranes in the Japanese tradition to honor children of war as Sadako Sasaki, age 12, inspired the children of Japan and the world to work for peace by her brave attempt to fold 1000 paper cranes before she died of radiation poisoning from the bombing of Hiroshima. A statue of Sadako was commissioned by her classmates and is located in Hiroshima Peace Park. It is usually covered with paper cranes. This artist cropped her image into a narrow prayer tail to attach to temple bells or trees for Sadako, children and peace. Rosalie Friis-Ross of Los Angeles, CA

These three colorful cards were created by artist and NCWCA President Helen Poole Newman of Berkeley, CA. They were made on the road to Ann Arbor, Michigan where her daughter will be attending graduate school

Debra Rueb from Texas created this beautiful composition

This very cool card that incorporates a $100 bill was created by Trish Foschi of San Francisco, CA.

This postcard, a print of original art was mailed by the artist Christine Ilewski of Alton, IL

NCWCA artist Judy Shintani of Half Moon Bay, CA sent this gorgeous double-sided card that was sewn, painted and collaged. She quotes a Lakota saying, "The hurt of one is the hurt of all."

"Sow Peace Now!"

"Apply Within"
These beautiful cards were created by artist Sandra Mueller, SCWCA President.

A sweet peace bird by Alice of Melbourne, Australia

Chiyeh God

Bayeh God
Two postcards from 11-year old Teresa Lin of Shanghai, China. These Gods specialize in rounding up mean ghosts. We need these spirits to protect us from nuclear war!

This unique postcard was created by Cem Demir of Cukurova Universitesi in Adana, Turkey. It was adhered to the front of the envelope instead of inside it. The back of the envelope contained my address.

Card from graphics designer Yuta Kon of Kawasaki, Japan. This card was created using computer graphics. He says, "My sweet 'character," Koma-neko (small kitty) is sad because of the world we live in, a world with nuclear weapons. Koma-neko is looking for a nuclear-free world of peace. Let's hope for smiles from Koma-chan when the world rids itself of these weapons!

From Chika Miyazawa, graphic artist from Tokyo, Japan. She used a water felt pen to make this card. She writes, "North Korea is threatening countries with their nuclear missile tests. This is despite Japan's strong opposition to the use of such weapons. Japan is also the only country that has been attacked by a nuclear bomb in the past. What is the purpose of North Korea's nuclear ambitions? Why do they want weapons of mass destruction while so many of their own people are starving to death? The drawing attempts to depict the irony of the situation in North Korea.

These two beautiful cards were sent by artist Ann Fanciullo Sperling of Mission Viejo, CA. The card on the top is a mixed media card titled "Out of the Darkness into the LIght" and the photograph is "Untitled."

This beautiful postcard was created by artist Rita Poutivskaia of Laguna Beach, CA

This beautiful, powerful collage card was created by artist Ellen November of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

This lovely painted postcard was mailed by Kay McClaren North of San Diego, CA

This brilliant card was created by artist and WCA CT Co-President Oi Fortin.

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, we will be exactly 100 days away from the International Day of Peace on 21 September. The Day was established by the General Assembly as a “day of global ceasefire and non-violence" for "commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace within and among all nations and people.”

Under the slogan "WMD - We Must Disarm" this year's campaign is focusing on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's drive to persuade world leaders to workharder for a world free of nuclear weapons, making it safer for you, your children and grandchildren.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has just released his 100-day countdown message asking for everybody to participate. In partnership with UN Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas and American actor Rainn Wilson (The Office), the UN will issue one reason to disarm on Twitter www.twitter.com/wemustdisarm), Facebook (http://apps.facebook.com/causes/298538/61588950?m=6949f328), MySpace (www.myspace.com/wemustdisarm), and via email and radio every day. Some more prominent people might join us later. Please join the sites, invite others to do so, re-tweet or forward the messages to friends, or write your own reasons to disarm.

THE SECRETARY-GENERALMESSAGE TO MARK THE 100-DAY COUNTDOWN TO THEINTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

13 June 2009

The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. It is a time to reflect on the horror and cost of war and the benefits of peacefully resolving our disputes. This year, I will use this important day to ask governments and citizens of the world to focus on the important issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The end of the Cold War helped lift the burden of nuclear catastrophe from ageneration that had lived under its cloud since the end of the Second World War. Nonetheless, the threat persists, as recent events attest. Unless we vigorously work for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, we will continue to face threats from existing nuclear weapons, as well as additional risks that more States, even terrorists, might acquire and deploy such weapons, potentially annihilating millions of people.

This alarming outlook is counterbalanced by a new momentum on the part ofworld leaders to address the issue of nuclear weapons. The United States and the Russian Federation have signalled a new commitment to cut their nuclear arsenals. Furthermore, the Conference on Disarmament, which includes all States with nuclear arms, has recently broken a decade-long deadlock and agreed to work to resolve some of the key issues related to disarmament and non-proliferation.

We must build on this momentum. To that end, I am launching the WMDWeMustDisarm! Campaign. Over the next 100 days, the United Nations and our partners around the world will work to raise awareness of the true costs and dangers of nuclear weapons. Between now and 21 September, we will issue 100 reasons to disarm, via Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, email, text message, radio and from friend-to-friend. Celebrities will also help us spread the message. And finally, as we observe the International Day of Peace with world leaders gathered in New York for the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, I will proclaim one strong, simple message: We Must Disarm!

...And KIK, The Ribbon International and WCA encourage you to create postcards in support of this message for our exhibition “Zero Nuclear Weapons, Zero Weapons of Mass Destruction: Create a Culture of Peace Now!”POSTED BY FROM PRISCILLA